Practical encouragement based on the biblical principles of Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 for today's woman
Mentoring Moments for Christian Women
Books & Media
The Shack
Kellie Renfroe
When the staff at MMCW decided to read The Shack in
May for review in the September issue, we did not know of the fire-storm already
brewing. To say some believers are split over the first work of William Paul
Young is an understatement. Many are asking if it is fiction or theology in
disguise. Young says it is fiction / a parable. Those opposing the book call it
out-right heresy.
Written as a Christmas gift for his six children, the book was edited by two of Young's close
friends turned publishers. The oversight of a professional
editor may have brought better clarification to the storyline and its use of
theology thus avoiding some of the uproar. But let's face it, when someone
writes a book where God is a character and speaks, there is sure to be
trouble.
Young tells the story of Mackenzie Phillips, a middle-aged man who has
experienced a life of tragic pain and loss. From growing up with an abusive
alcoholic father who happens to be a church deacon to the abduction and murder
of his 6 year-old daughter, Mack has grown cold and angry in his faith. In the
midst of his dreary life, Mack receives a letter with a request to come to the
shack, the site of his daughter's murder. The note is signed by God. The book
continues with Mack visiting the shack for a weekend experience with God the
Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
It's at this point believers become divided. Whether it is the forms in
which Young portrays the Trinity (God as an African-American woman, Jesus as a
Middle Eastern carpenter, and the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman) or their
conversations -- opinions as to his motives abound.
While Young addresses issues of theology in a fictional setting, (evil,
forgiveness, the institution of the church, the Trinity) he does so in a manner
that may be disconcerting to both Calvinists and
Arminians. There are detractors and supporters in
either camp. Two often discussed issues are whether Young is a Universalist and the question of his
respect for the authority of scripture. Young, raised on the mission field by
Missionary Alliance parents, does not affiliate himself with any denomination
today. He has repeatedly denied being an Universalist and says the only way to
God is through Jesus Christ. Readers who like the book cite Young's ability to share God's love and grace through the vehicle of a fictional story of one man's pain.
Keep all sides of the debate in mind if you are debating whether or not to read The
Shack. Pray about it first. Allow the Lord to direct you. If you sense a
check in your spirit, steer clear. (What is a 'check in your spirit? The Holy
Spirit's discernment at work giving you direction.)
Should you choose to slog through the reviews, be forewarned that you need
as much prayer to go there (if not more) than just reading the book. Know whose
opinion you are reading. Read other articles on the site you visit and know
where the author is coming from in regards to theology.
So why is MMCW even talking about this controversial book? Because just
like everyone else, some of us wanted to read it. Believers are discussing the book and
that is not a bad thing. It is important that we know what we believe and why.
We must be as the Bereans who were commended for their study of scripture. I
have had many interesting and thought- provoking discussions with those who loved
the book and those who did not and I am better for all of it. The only way to
know what we believe and why is to be as Elizabeth George says: women of only
one book, the Bible.
Did I read the book? Yes.
Do I recommend it? Follow the
leading of the Holy Spirit for yourself. I pray for the Lord's direction before
giving my time and energy to any book outside the Bible. What He leads you to
read may not be on my reading list for this year and vice versa. I would not
recommend it to others if you have not read it yourself--that's good advice for
any book, not just The Shack.
Is the book confusing to new believers? The book
in and of itself is not confusing for anyone. The issue arises as to the
author's view of theology and depending where you fall in the debate, it may
or may not be a book you would want to recommend to new believers.
How does The Shack stand up to other works of
fiction? While Eugene Peterson (The Message Bible) compares it to
Pilgrim's Progress I don't share the same sentiment. I would compare
it to more modern Christian thriller / fiction such as Frank Peretti's
Piercing the Darkness and This Present Darkness. Peritti's
books, by the way, caused their own stir when released.
Is the storyline of the murder and abduction of a child
graphic? While not graphic in a worldly sense where every detail
is described, it is disturbing. The account of the murder is not based on truth,
it is storytelling. If you don't think you can get past this storyline but would
still like a good book / movie try:
David Gregory's Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: An Invitation Worth
Considering.
Simple story of two men having dinner and discussing life, twist is one of
the men is Jesus.
Book, audio available.
Francine River's The Last Sin-Eater.
Set in Appalachia during the 1800's, the book deals with man-made
traditions and salvation.
Book, audio, and movie available.
Book Reviews
Helping People Through Grief: A Sensitive Guide to Help You Know
How and When to Share Your Concern with People in Crisis and Pain
by Delories Kuenning (Bethany House Publishers, 272 pages). A book with a
punch, Helping People Through Grief is not a Sunday afternoon read. The
book's power lies in addressing areas where grief is encountered with heart
rending stories of those who have experienced it firsthand. Topics include:
birth of a handicapped child, miscarriage, sudden infant death syndrome, abduction
and murder of a child, a missing child, children with cancer, releasing a child
to adoption, the aftermath of abortion, rape, divorce, mastectomy,
disfigurement, disability, sudden catastrophic death, terminal illness, death of
a spouse, Alzheimer's Disease, and death.
Written from a Christian perspective, the book includes specific helps for
each form of grief. Advice to caregivers, do's and don'ts, additional reading
material, hotline numbers, and even encouragement are included in this book. It
is a book that should be on every Christian women's bookshelf for reference. We
do not want to think about some of these issues, but when they occur and we're
searching for information this book will be invaluable. ~ KellieRenfroe
All the Way to Heaven: A Surprising Faith Journey by Elizabeth Sherrill (207 pages, Revell: A Division of Baker Book House)Elizabeth Sherrill, best known for coauthoring with her husband, John,
contemporary Christian classics The Hiding Place, The Crossand the Switchblade, and God's Smuggler brings her own journey
of faith to light in this inspiring look at heaven. Beginning her story as a
young girl and bringing readers to present day, Sherrill shares an engaging
combination of devotional / essay style of writing. A nugget that readers may
find interesting is Sherrill and her husband were two of the first writers for
Guideposts magazine--and they were not Christians. The book recounts her journey to discover the faithful, merciful, and miracle-working Savior that she so often wrote about for Guideposts.
Filled with wisdom and insight, All the Way to Heaven challenges readers to
look for God's hand in everyday moments where we can catch glimpses of heaven.
Her premise is that when we truly open our eyes, we can see glimpses of heaven
behind us, with us, and before us. In her stories of suffering from clinical depression as a young
mom and her husband facing cancer, Sherrill shares how God's hand was at work in
her life--even before she became a believer. ~ Kellie Renfroe
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Travel the Road
Beba Schlottmann If you are like me, you probably do your TV surfing at night when the house is quiet and you can find some alone time. I want to share with you a wonderful Reality Series that will touch your heart and ignite a passion for missions. I was introduced to Travel the Road by accident while channel surfing one evening. Travel the Road is a reality series that documents the lives of young missionaries, Tim Scott and Will Decker, into the world of front line mission work. I was hooked from the first episode I watched. Will and Scott (the missionaries) are genuine and passionate in their approach and their artistic gifts shine with each footage and photograph. You can catch their reality series on TBN or log onto their website at www.traveltheroad.com.
A Few of Our Favorite Things
Visit us on our blog
as we share our favorite things. From Rhonda Ellis' top five tips to
raising godly children to Christmas organization ideas, you're sure to
love this new series. Not only do we want you to check out the blog, we want to hear from you! Share your favorite things too! www.mentoringblog.mentoringmoments.net.
Mentoring Moments Chat! We are excited about the addition of our blog, Mentoring Moments Chat.
Not only can you read posts from our staff, you can join in too! MM
Chat is the place to ask online questions, share a recipe, a book
review, or your favorite scripture.
We want to hear from you! Visit the blog
and subscribe so you can have the blogs arrive directly to your email
address. And, if you blog send your address to us -- we'd love to visit
you too!
Do you wonder if God could ever use you again? Do you feel that what you've
done is so terrible that God has washed His hands of you? Do you feel the
Christian life is just too hard? If so, you need this book. In this nine-week
study, Kay Arthur leads you to the amazing truth that the grace of God is
available for every situation--no matter how difficult. She writes, "Grace frees
us from religion and brings us into relationship with God." Through this study
you will discover that grace will preserve you in the darkest night of your
failures. Grace calls you to get up, throw off your hopelessness, and move
on.
If you are in touch with the world, you know that people around you are
hurting. We run to many sources for relief when we are in pain. Some of us turn
to other people. Many escape into drugs, work, further education, and even
hobbies. Where do you run when you are hurting? In God, you can find salvation
from any situation, from any hurt. No matter what you've done or what's been
done to you. God wants to become your refuge. He loves you. He desires your
wholeness. And He offers healing for your deepest wounds. Whatever pain has
settled in your soul, whether or not you believe there is hope for relief, much
less healing, the truth and the message of this book are for you! Find out how
the Lord can turn your sorrow into joy with Kay Arthur's life-changing
thirteen-week devotional study, Lord, Heal My Hurts.
Whether you have an iPod or MP3 player, the ability to download music, video and podcasts is fabulous. Here are a few MMCW staff favorites. Let us know what your favorites are by emailing Mentoringmoments@aol.com.
Online Sermons
* Cole Huffman, Pastor First Evangelical Church in Memphis, TN. Sunday sermons and Thursday business luncheon talks available for online listening or downloads. www.firstevan.org
* John Colbaugh, Pastor of Lawrenceville Church of God in Lawrenceville, GA. lcog.cc
Podcasts
* Beth Moore, Living Proof Ministries. Listen to online radio studies at your convenience for free. lproof.org
Blogs
* Molly Evert's Counter Cultural Mom blog. Various podcasts to encourage women and plenty of good homeschooling ideas. counterculturalmom.blogspot.com
* Mentoring Moments Chat. New blog that allows our readers to share their ideas, recipes, answer our surveys and answer read questions. mentoringblog.mentoringmoments.net
Check out TrueWoman '08 Conference Online!
This month take the time to listen to the audio from the TrueWoman '08 conference online for free. You will enjoy hearing John Piper, Mary Kassian, Janet Parshall, Barbara Rainey and more. True Woman '08
Plus Living: Looking for Joy in All the Right Places
Vicki
Huffman is the author of two books on Christian living that are
currently out of print. A limited number of her second book, "Plus
Living: Looking for Joy in All the Right Places," published by Harold
Shaw Publishers in 1989, are available by mail order from the author
for $8. For details, email Vicki at vhuffman@tds.net.
Thanksgiving Blessings
A
new series added to our Special Occasion section. Here you will find
Loi Palmer's Thanksgiving menu complete with countdown planner, ideas
for simple decorations and centerpieces, and meaningful family
traditions.
A Thankful Marriage
Stephanie Little gives encouragement and testimonies from women sharing the gratitude they have for their husband and marraige.
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